39.65 /4: 
6uL_ 37 


Bulletin No, 29 ng Pebruary 25, 1922. 
Ms 'M. LEIGH | 


COMMON PALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA 


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS 
James F, ijoodward, Secretary 





nt a en 





RURE..U OF TOPOGRAPHIC uND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
George H, Ashlcy, State Geologist 














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GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE OF THE GREENSBURG QUADRANGLE, PENNA. 


M,. Be. Johnson 


(eee ee ee oN ON 


The Greensburg quadrangle lics east of Pittsburgh in vestmore- 
land and Allegheny countics. It contains 227 square miles, and is 
17% miles long and 13% miles wide, The village of New Texas is in 
the extreme northwest corner and Dick is in the southwest corner. 
Grecnsburg is situated about four miles northwest of the southeast 
corner of the quadrangle and Saitsburg is three miles east of the 
northeast corner. 


The gcologic examination of the area was made in the summer of 
1921 by several members of the State Geological. Survey, The results 
of this ficla work arc being compiled by the writer and the follow- 
ing description of the geologic structure ig published with the hope 
that it may be a guide in the further exploration for oil and gas. 


The Greensburg quedrangle is traversed by three strong anti- 
Clines (up-folds) and three synclines (down-folds). These structural 
folds cross the cuadrangle in a northeast direction in accordance 
with the gencral structure of western Pennsylvania. The synelines 
and anticlines become sharper and the folds are more pronounced from 
west to east. 


The following description of the various structures treats of 
them in order from northwest to southeast, 


Duquesne Syneline. ‘This synelinc, originating as a branch of 
the Pigeon Creek syncline, passes through Dravosburg and Duquesne, 
follows up Thompson Run and enters the Greensburg quadrangle three-~ 
fourths of a mile northeast of Trestle. It crosscs the northwest 
corner of the Greensburg quadrangle as a broad shallow basin. The 
axis pursues a general northeast course between the village of New 
Texas and Plum Creck church, 





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Murrysville Anticlinc. Tremendous cuantities of gas obtained 
from this anticline in the past have made it imown to everyone in 
this region whe is interested in the production of Cogete and gas The 
Supply of gas is by no means exhausted even nov The.’ anticline 
passes thiough West Elizabeth, Clairton, Belle Br es and Versailles 

and enters the Greensburg quadrangle spout one mile southeast of 
Trafford City station of the Pennsylvania Railroad. MThe axis passes 
about half a mile east of Murrysville (from which place the anticline 
gets its name) and continues in a northeasterly direction. The 
Murrysville anticline is strongly developed in the Greensburg quad- 
rangle. It increases in elcvation to the northeast and raises the 
Pittsburcth coal horizon (the coal has been eroded) from 1280 feet 
ebove sea level at the west boundary of the quadrangle to over 1800 
feet at the north boundary. 


Irwin (Port Royal) Synelino The Port Royal syneline = inown 
to bitwainows “Coal operators as 5 the Trwin basin - hes its greatest 
deve lopment in the Greensburg quadrangle, The axis of this syncline 
passes one auarter of a mile wost of Herminie, through Westmoreland 
City and Taner, half a mile west of Harrison City and one mile east 
of Export. The whole structure pitches to the southwest or in other 
words the bottom rises from south of Horminie where the Pittsburgh: 
2-0al is well below the surface and is less than 600 feet above sea, 
to the vicinity of Expert where its elevation is 950 fect. Northeast 
of Export the structure rises much more rapidly and the Irwin basin 
propex can be said to end three or four miles northeast of Export. 
Here the Pittsburgh coal crons out and in the saddle between the 
ea aan and the Bléers Ridge syncline most of the coal hes been 
eroded 


The Hlders Ridge - aaa the south end of which is in the 
‘Greensburg quadrangle , is:a continuation - of the Jrwin syneline as 
both lie between the Murrysville and the Grape vig: anticlines. The 
Hlders Ridge syncline has a low pitch to tho nor,east and the Pitts- 
burgh coal sinks from an elevation of 1250 feet at the mouth of 
Porters Run to 1170 feet at the quadrangle boundary. 


Grapeville Anticline. This structure also is well known to oil 
and gaS men. It has produccd tremenduous quantities of gas in the 
past and still is a largo producer, art of the structure has not 


yet been tested by the drill. The south end of this anticline is 
just north of ‘YJalts Mill on Sewickley Creek, The crest rises 
rapidly and one mile southcast of Arona the horizon of the Pitts- 
burgh coal is at an elevation of 1460 fect. From this point the 
axis cxtconds northeast through Hisaman, swings more to the cast and 
passes through Grapeville, cuts tle main line of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad about one mile east of Jeannette station, inclines slightly 
more to the east and passes directly through the village of Five 
Points. The highest part of the anticline is a dome about three and 
one-half miles northeast of Jeannette, Here the horizon of the 
Pittsburgh coal is more than 1800 feet ebove sea level, Northward 
the clevation of the Pittsburgh coal horizon decreases 150 fcet in 
four miles, 





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Greensbures Synclince. The Greensburg basin has long beon known 
to coal operators 2S one of the fcur great coal basins of western 
Pennsylvania. Tho city of Greensburg is in tho middle of the basin 
and owes its existence largely to the valuable Pittsburgh coal bed 
vwaderneath it. , 


The south end of the Greonsburg syneline is just east of the 
tip of the Grapeville anticline. The axis of the syncline crosses 
the Greensburg quadrangle in 2 northeast direction, passing through 
swede Hill anc the city of Greensburg, ond loaving the quadrangle 
Ofe mile cast of Hannastown. At the bottom of the basin, two miles 
north of Greensburg, the Pittsburgh coal is 775 feet above sea level. 
Bast of Hannastown the coal hes risen to 830 feet. Southwest of 
Greensburg the structure rises rapidly. The horizon of the coal - 
the coal has been eroded = along the axis of the syncline at the’ 
south boundary of the quadrangle is at an clevation of 1250 feet. 


Fayette Anticline, The Payette anticline, like the Duquesne 
Syncline, crosses onl a corner of the quadrangle. The axis of the 
anticline has a north..2st-southwest trend and is close to the 
Hempficld-Unity township line. The anticline rises sharply from 
South to north. 


Feaniiee | at waite eA a nee 
The anticlincs and synelines described above and shown-on .thes.°* 
accompanying map, constitute the major structural features of the 
quadrangle, There ere many minor kinks and folds in the syn@lines: 
and on the anticlines which are of local importance only. Some of* 
these it is impossible to show on the structure shcet on ie ees of 
the large contour interval which it was found necessary to u Gs 




































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iAP OF GREENSBURG QUADRANGLE SHOWING GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE 
Structure contours on horizon of Pittsburgh coal. 
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